Progress in Mid Hill Highway: 193 kms road along Kaski-Baglung section blacktopped

Gandaki, January 9 — Progress on the Mid Hill Pushpalal Highway, the project of national pride, has reached a significant milestone with 193 kilometres of the road along the Kaski-Parbat-Baglung section blacktopped so far.

Out of the total 250 kilometers, only 38 kilometers from Bhainse in Madi Rural Municipality to Yamdi in Pokhara Metropolitan City in Kaski, and 13 kilometers from Upallachaur to Ghodabandhe in Baglung district, are yet to be blacktopped.

According to the project officials, preparatory works for infrastructure development to upgrade the road in 51 kilometres are ongoing.

Shambhu Prasad Acharya, the Chief of the Project Office in Parbat, said that the development of the Upallachaur to Ghodabandhe section has begun under a new contract after terminating the previous contract due to delayed progress.

Additionally, the construction of the 99 kilometers of road from Ghodabandhe to Patihalne, bordering Rukum Purba to Baglung districts, has been completed. Likewise, maintenance works of the roads in some areas has also been initiated.

Construction of several bridges along the Kaski-Baglung section is ongoing, with designs for some bridges awaiting approval after contract management.

A total of Rs 204 million has been spent in the first five months of the current fiscal year out of total Rs 768 million allocated for road and bridges along the Kaski-Parbat-Baglung road section.